NOVEMBER 30, 1922
LONDON TERMINAL AERODROME
Monday evening, November 27, 1922
TRAFFIC has suffered from the aftermath of the foggy spell
last week. It is a noteworthy fact that not only does fog
prevent the smooth running of the services, but' it has an
adverse effect on advance passenger bookings Would-be
passengers seem to steer clear of booking by air, for several
days ahead, even when it is almost certain that the fog will
have cleared ; and after a spell of fog there is quite a time-lag
before bookings resume their normal flow.
The efforts of both the Air Ministry and the Marconi
Company to improve the wireless telephones fitted to the
" air expresses " are now being justified in the much longer
range, and in the clearness of the messages. During this last
week Daimler pilots have been exchanging messages with
Croydon when they were actually circling above the
Amsterdam Aerodrome prior to alighting there, while one of
the Grands Express Goliaths has been heard operating when
above Dijon ; and Mr. Bouderie speaks mysteriously of one
of their pilots being in touch with Lausanne within a few
minutes of leaving Croydon.
Manchester-London " Air Express " Record
THE fastest journey yet made between Manchester and
London was accomplished on Friday, when one of the Daimler
34's flew from Manchester to Croydon in 80 minutes. The
machine arrived over the aerodrome at a height of 6,000 ft.,
and another four minutes was occupied in losing height and
landing, making the time from leaving the ground at Man
chester to alighting at Croydon 84 minutes. Capt. Hinciiliffe
also made a rapid return flight from Amsterdam to London
and back during the week, being only 5^ hours away from
Amsterdam, including the time taken to change machines and
passengers at Croydon.
The Instone Air Line have made arrangements for landing
at Tirlemont to refuel their machines on the London-Brussels
route, and are now alighting there instead of at Lympne.
On Saturday they carried as passenger the Lord Bishop of
Bangor, who is now in his 78th year, and who was travelling
to Cologne to preach to the troops of the Army of Occupation in
Cologne on Sunday.
The C.M.A. air-lines have begun an early-morning news
paper service between Lympne and Paris, the first machine
on this service leaving Lympne at 7.40 this morning, and
arriving at Pans at 9.35 a.m. They intend to make the return
trip to Lympne, carrying fresh fruit and vegetables from
Fans lor the London market, and these will be sent on from
Lympne by tram. This has been arranged in order to prevent
any Customs' delay, as no dutiable goods will on any account
be carried on these machines.
The traffic-movement board that delights all schoolboys
who make the aerodrome a regular rendezvous, has been
taken down, and I understand it is to be enlarged to take in
all the new lines, such as Manchester, Cologne, and possibly
Berlin. The weather report board remains in its original
form, and the additional weather reports for the new routes
are displayed in full on a notice-board near by. This is, after
all, a fuller method of exhibiting reports, as they contain
very important information which, for some reason or other
is omitted from the big board.
Speaking of meteorology makes one hope, by the way, that
means will be found to increase the frequency of such reports
from the Manchester air-station. When there is fog to be
considered, they should come in far oftener than they do.
The wonderful Daimler 34, G-EBBS, which has now nearly
800 hours' flying to its credit, returned from Stag Lane
yesterday, after having been fitted with an adjustable tail.
Firework Display for Passengers
DURING one or two recent days " air expresses " arriving
above the aerodrome when it is mist-enshrouded, the passen
gers, looking out of the windows, have seen a fine display of
" fireworks." Rockets sent up from the 'drome, to indicate
iti location to the pilot, have been penetrating right through
the bank of mist, and then exploding brilliantly in the clear
atmosphere above.
Vice-Admiral Mark Kerr, veteran air enthusiast, has just
been surprising us again. Going up in a dual-control " Avro,"
the other day, with Capt. Muir, the Admiral (who is now in
his 59th year) astonished everyone by " looping " the machine
most dexterously, after which he put it into a " spin,' and got
it out again in a manner which was masterly in its skill.
H H H H
THE LONDON-CONTINENTAL SERVICES
FLIGHTS BETWEEN NOVEMBER 19 AND NOVEMBER 25, INCLUSIVE
Route (including certain
diverted journeys)
gilts
"
f fl
i
0
6
l-i
sen
g
No
. 0
No . of
flights
carrying
'a
ai
13
Go
o
a ^
0 "
0 5
6 °
BO
"A 0
CO p bo.5
as -^
Av
e
Fastest time made by
Type and (in brackets)
Number of each type flying
14
13
4
5
6
6
6|
6§
60
33
46
9
11
2
10
22
5
138
5
5
4
4
6
6
—
5
35
11
13
—
—
6
6
I
37
13
12
4
4
4
6
6
5
54
h. m
2 40
2 55
4 18
3 54
2 35
2 47
5 29
6 30
H.P.W.8BG-EBBI(2h. 21m.)
H.P.W8B G-EBBI (2h. 32m.)
D.H. 34 G-EBBV (3h. 54m.)
D.H. 18 G-EAWW (3h. 37m.)
Fokker H-NABN (2h. 35m.)
Fokker H-NABI (2h. 4001.)
D.H 34 G-EBBQ (5I1. 29m.)
D.H. 34 G-EBBY (6h. 23m.)
B. (2), G.
Sp. (2).
B. (2), G.
Sp. (1).
D.H. 18 (1)
D.H. 18 (a)
F. (6).
F. (6).
D.H. 34 (2).
D.H. 34 (2).
(6), H.P.W.8B
(6), H.P.W.8B.
D.H. 34 (3).
D.H. 34 (3).
(3),
(3),
Croy don-Paris
Paris-Croydon ...
Croydon-Brussels-
Cologne
Cologne-Brussels-
Croydon
Croydon-Rotterdam
Rotterdam-Croydon
Manchester-Croydon-
Amsterdam
Amsterda m-Croydon -
Manchester
Total for week
* Not including ** private " nights. t Including certain journeys when stops were made en mule.
% Man"-Stg. Lane 1, Croy.-A'dam. 2. § A'dam.-Croy. 3, Croy .-Man. 1.
Av - Avm B = Breeuet Br. = Bristol. Bt. = B.A.T. D.H.4 = De Havilland 4, D.H.9 (etc.)
F -Fokker Fa = Farman F 50 G. = Goliath Farman. H.P. - Handley Page. M. - Martmsyde. Sp. - Spad.
Vi. = Vickers Vimy. Vu. - Vickers Vulcan. W. = Westland.
T.„ , „ . „ • „ ,;„. „f firmo mnnine services between London and Paris, Brussels, etc., etc.:—Co. des Grandes
Ex^^ia^litfSffMey Page Transport, Ltd.; Instone Air Line; Koninklijkie Luchtvaart
Maatschappij ; Messageries Aeriennes.
Incidental Flying -Mr. Perry tested two Bristol Fighters and two SoPwith Snipes at Croydon for the Aircraft Disposal Co
and together with Mr. Piercey left for Dublin on the 24th, both on Bristol Fighters.
705